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HMP Thameside

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Open document

Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Thameside by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons 3 – 13 February 2025.

Thameside healthy prison scores

Bar chart illustrating healthy prison outcome scores for HMP Thameside. Outcomes in safety and respect had declined from reasonably good to not sufficiently good; outcomes in purposeful activity had improved from poor to not sufficiently good, and in preparation for release from not sufficiently good to reasonably good.

What we found

A well-regarded governor, supported by an experienced deputy, had created a more united leadership team. Staff-prisoner relationships were good and living conditions were reasonable.

Time out of cell was considerably better than at many reception jails, with prisoners unlocked for about seven hours a day, and there was a broad and well-developed programme of enrichment activities. However, too few were engaged in work or education. Levels of violence were high, and the mandatory positive drug testing rate for the past year was 25%.

Points to note: Health care was among the worst inspectors have seen in recent years. Despite being issued with an improvement notice by the Care Quality Commission more than a year earlier, there continued to be huge inconsistencies in the service provided and some critical failings.


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